The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-07-09
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for
Our Agricultural
Readers.
Information of Value to the Farmer.
Stock Breeder, Housewife, and
Kitchen Maid.
AGRICULTURE.


Alfalfa is the Spanish name for Lucerne.
The plant, with this name, was found in
successful culture by the California MeXi-
cans, and soon after the settlement of the
State by our people, II was introduced to
some eastern localities, and tried 10y those
who did not know II to be Lucerne.
lucerne was introduced and tried nearly
a hundred years ago, but neither from
these early trials nor those made later with
seed from California, has the plant estab-
lished itself III tho Northern States, and
the general decision has been that 1t is too
tender for the Northern and Middle States.
SO far as We are aware, this decision is
made upon the plants from seeds sown
broadcast. The plant is so deep-rooted,
that We doubt, If it were planted in drills,
that 1t would be injured by an ordinary
winter. Sown In drills thirty inches apart,
and cultivated the first season, il would
better resist the cold than weakly, crowded
plants, from seed soWn broadcast. 1t is
altogether too valuable IA forage plant to
be given the best soil, heavily MANFRED,
and the seed drilled in at the rate Of eight
to ten pounds per acre. 1t should be cut
very sparingly, If at all, the first year.
Reasons Jor Harroicuag.
We should harrow the ground, first to
cover the seeds of the various crops
planted, then to destroy weeds, pulverize
clods, preserve moisture promote capillary
attraction, render available all the soluble
elements of plant food stored IN the soil;
to aerate the soil and to increase the
power of the soil 10 absorb the volatile
elements of plant food from the air. All
these points can be gained by the judicious
use of tine harrow, which makes it one of
the most valuable implements on the farm.
- ~ la I b,.
to cover plant seeds, TO destroy weeds and
TO rulveuze clods need no explanation.
But If every seed is well planted and all
the weeds destroyed, and all the clods pull
veriZed, there is still much to be gained by
using the harrow.
One of the essential conditions of ger
mination and growth is the presence of
air. \ seed would no sooner grow without
the influence of the air than without the
presence of heat or moisture. Hence any
thing We can do TO promote the circulation
of the air III the surface soil will be of
great advantage to young crops. Moisture
is preserved or stored in the soil by har-
rowing, because the finely divided PARTICLES
of soil which are produced by narrowing
serve as a mulch to prevent the rapid
escape of water and the consequent crack
ing open of the earth. COntirmatOry proof
of this statement will be found by observ-
ing how close moisture lays to the surface
of loose sand. The excellent condition in
which the harrow places the soil to hold it's
surface moisture also enables IT through
the principle of capillary attraction to
draw fresh supplies of water from greater
depths. The air is full of the volatile
elements of plant food, most prominent of
which, aside from oxygen, is carbonic acid
and ammonia. The soil is powerful alb
sorbent of these elements; but 1t must be
finely pulyerized in order to possess its
highest absorbing power and in order to be
able 10 yield again these elements to the
roots of plants. We think narrowing is
about as important to farming as Demos
themes thought delivery was in the art of
oratory. OF course the necessary blowing
or cultivating must be done first.
ID. 4. KENT.